Aluminum melts at a little over 1200 degrees
A few years back there was a small fad amongst survivalist of attempting to melt aluminum cans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3004_aluminium_alloy to make things by casting .. depending on the use anything that would be under intermittent strain soon cracked or broke.. especially small parts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_alloy the problem being 3004 is 1) not made for casting and doesn't fill out sand casting well and 2% it easily work hardens like a twisted paper clip and breaks ..
a lot of anguish and gnashing of teeth from frustrated would be survivalists
The saddest part that you can get useable flat sheets of easy to work aluminum from cans to make all sorts of small containers or cut down cans to make scoops and containers with wire handles of bails or even pocket and rocket stoves spinner lures for fishing
speaking of fishing most folks don't seem to know this but, if you buy fish hooks in bulk the prices are a lot different from buying them is small packets at sporting goods stores
example
http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/live-bait- ... hooks.aspx in this example brand name item good size for night crawlers 6 cents each
http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/live-bait- ... hooks.aspx some beer can flash and a found feather and you have a lure
pays to shop around and you don't need to do the whole melting it down thingy to make real useful or artistic things from aluminum
Maybe it was just the folks I knew that got head locked into melting aluminum for melting's sake and couldn't really come up with anything actually appropriate for the alloys at hand and totally overlooked the power of tin snips and punches to make things like lanterns and candle holders
aluminum can usually be soldered if you prep it right and maybe use a few tricks there are no end of tips online
best way to gauge the best way to use scrap aluminum is to consider the original manufacturing process used to make what is now "scrap" to you, and to consider if any great amounts or heat were used or if the item was cold formed originally.
Aluminum has all sorts of alloys with different properties and uses
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_alloy
just like steel
http://zknives.com/knives/articles/knifesteelfaq.shtml
handy to have
http://www.acehardware.com/product/inde ... a95ef25fc9